Helena waited until Sophia was wandering in the forest and enjoying the nature surrounding her as she often did back home. When her aunt was out of sight, she turned to Alexander, hesitating.
It was an awkward moment, their eyes meeting before she cleared her throat.
“Thank ye for smoothin’ that out with me aunt. I didnae ken what to say or how to explain everything that had happened since I arrived here. It all happened so fast.”
“Of course. Ye’re mine now, to protect in any way necessary. Even if it’s just smoothin’ things out with yer aunt. She really is a force to be reckoned with as ye suggested,” Alexander admitted, grimacing slightly.
She was just about to say something else when a small mountain hare hopped into sight. Excited at the presence of the creature,she turned and knelt, watching it slowly meander. Rabbits were some of her favorite animals, though her father had never let her keep one as a pet.
Alexander watched her closely, his face stern as she slowly moved toward the hare. Helena ignored him, trying to move closer to observe the creature in its natural habitat. Her heart melted as she watched it nibble on some green leaves in the underbrush. It wasn’t until Alexander stood up that its ears perked up and it bounced away quickly.
“It was so adorable!” Helena protested, glaring up at him. “Ye couldnae sit still for a moment?”
“Ye would ken all about adorable, lass,” he commented gruffly, surprising her.
He seemed to be moving closer to her as she rose, and their eyes met. Then, there was rustling in the tree line and Sophia reappeared.
Alexander’s arm snaked around Helena as Sophia approached, her skeptical gaze following the gesture.
“Ye will have to save that for later, both of ye. The girl, Felicia, is upset. Alice cannae calm the poor lass,” she explained.
Alexander released Helena, his expression a mix of sadness and irritation.
“I’ll take care of it,” he muttered, nodding at Sophia. “Thank ye for tellin’ me. I’ll be back.”
The afternoon sun hung lazily in the sky, its golden light stretching over the rolling meadow. Wildflowers swayed gently in the breeze, their delicate petals brushing against the grass. The scent of fresh earth, sweet blossoms, and damp moss filled the air, mixing with the distant rustling of leaves in the nearby forest.
Helena stood beside Sophia, the silence between them stretching longer than usual. The ride back to the castle had been uneventful, though heavy with unspoken thoughts. Alexander had walked off upon their return, excusing himself to speak with Alice and Felicia again.
Sophia mentioned earlier that Felicia was upset. Helena had noticed it as well—how Felicia barely looked at her, how her presence always made the young girl stiffen. Her resentment was obvious, but Helena had never pressed the issue.
“She’s an angry, wee thing,” Sophia mused, breaking the silence. Her gaze swept over the courtyard, though Helena knew her mind was elsewhere. “Angry and bitter. And yet Alexander keeps her close.”
Helena let out a breath, watching as a butterfly flitted past her. “He raised her like a sister, I suppose.”
“Aye. And yet she glares at ye as if she’d rather ye be six feet under.”
Helena’s lips thinned. Felicia had never outright insulted her, never spoken words of hatred, but her coldness was enough.
Sophia shifted beside her, folding her arms. “Are ye comfortable bein’ around the lass? I ken she hasnae taken kindly to ye.”
Helena exhaled. “She has been cold, aye. But I understand it.”
Sophia scoffed. “Understand it? The girl lost her family in one of our clan’s raids, I ken that much. But is it fair? Ye had nothin’ to do with it.”
Helena’s gaze lingered on the grass, watching as it rippled like waves. She gave a small shrug. “Fair or nae, it doesnae change what she feels.”
Sophia narrowed her eyes, clearly not satisfied with that answer. “And ye accept that? Let her hate ye for somethin’ ye had nay hand in?”
“She feels the pain as keenly as we do,” Helena snapped. Seeing the sadness in her aunt’s eyes, she hesitated. “What else can I do?”
Before Sophia could answer, a figure approached from the other side of the courtyard.
Alice walked with an easy grace, her dark hair gleaming under the sun, her skirts brushing against the grass. She lifted a hand in greeting.
“Ah, there ye are,” she said as she stopped before them. Her voice was light, though there was an underlying note of concern. “I was lookin’ for ye both.”
Sophia straightened. “Felicia?”
